Electrician&#39;s wire fish pole



May 11, 1965 A. A. FRENCH ELECTRICIANS WIRE FISH POLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed "June 1, 1962 Alton A. French 1N VEN TOR.

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May 11, 1965 A. A. FRENCH ELECTRICIANS WIRE FISH POLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 1, 1962 Fig.6

Alton A. French INVENTOR. BY 403:...

United States Patent 3,182,960 ELECTRICIANS WIRE FISH POLE Alton A. French, 817 W. Norwood Courts, San Antonio, Tex.

Filed June 1, 1962, Ser. No. 199,478 Claims. (254-1343) The present invention generally relates to an elongated sectional pole, and more particularly to a pole having means on the forward end thereof particularly adapted for hooking onto lead wires in order that such wires might be drawn through normally inaccessible places such as under floors and through ceilings as would be required in the installation of various Wiring.

One of the major problems which arises in the installation of various types of wires, such as electrical and telephone wires, is the frequent necessity of extending these Wires through long inaccessible spaces, which spaces are often very poorly lit thus increasing the diliiculty. Accordingly, one of the primary objects of the present invention is the provision of a sectional pole while can easily be inserted into relatively small and normally inaccessible spaces for the purpose of grasping and guiding various wires through such spaces.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of means for illuminating the interior of these spaces particularly in the area adjacent the forward end of the hole which end also includes the means for grasping the wires.

Additionally, an object of the present invention involves the provision of a pole which can be easily and quickly lengthened or shortened so as to readily accommodate various length spaces.

Also, an object of the present invention involves the provision of a device which is extremely light, capable of being compacted for easy transpontation and storage, extremely durable, and highly effective for its intended purpose.

Likewise, an object of the \present invention is the provision of a device which is inexpensive to manufacture and simple in construction.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the sectional pole comprising the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the head portion of the forward section;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 3-3 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view illustrating the manner in which the pole sections are interlocked;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 55 in FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a schematic view illustrating the manner in which the present invention is utilized.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates the sectional pole comprising the present invention. This pole 10, in addition to the body sections 12, includes a head section 14.

With particular attention directed toward FIGURE 2, it will be noted that the head section 14, constructed of a rigid, lightweight non-conductive material, is provided with a forwardly extending hook portion 16 secured to the head portion 14 in any conventional manner such as by rivets 18. The hook 16, also made of a non-conductive material, is intended to possess sufficient resiliency so as to enable the user of the pole 10 to either straighten or compress the hook 16 a sufficient amount so as to allow for its insertion through a relatively narrow opening while attaining access to the slightly enlarged space interior of the walls, ceilings and floors of various buildings. As will be noted in FIGURE 6, the pole 10 is extended through an enclosed portion of a building, generally referred to by reference numeral 20, so as to engage the hook 16 with a lead line 22 which lead line is then drawn through the enclosed space and subsequently used to position the wiring being installed.

Returning to FIGURE 2, it will be noted that the head portion 14 is additionally provided with an illuminating means 24 including a bulb 26 and two conventional flashlight batteries 28 mounted within the forward end of the head section 14. The illuminating means 24 is mounted by means of an elongated bracket 30 provided with two spring clamps 32 for engaging the batteries 28, an inwardly bent lower flange 34 for engaging the base of the lower battery 28, an outwardly bent upper flange 36 for engaging the upper edge 38 of the head section 14, and a socket means 40 secured to the bracket 30 in a position so as to insure contact between the bulb 26 and the upper battery 28. A switch means 42 is also provided and includes a lower contact portion 44, an upper contact portion 46, and a projecting actuating portion 48 preferably provided with a serrated outer surface 50. This actuating portion 48 is provided within an aperture 52 and is not intended to project beyond the outer surface of the head section 14 thereby protecting the switch means 42 from breakage or accidental movement. The entire illuminating means, including its supporting bracket is illustrated as being frictionally engaged within the upper portion of the head section 14, and, in regard to this frictional engagement, it will be noted that it is contemplated that the projection 48 be sufficiently resilient so as to be compressed or flattened so as to allow the slipping of this projection 48 past the upper edge 54 of the aperture 52 thereby enabling the complete removal of the illuminating means. While this particular illuminating means has been illustrated and described, it is contemplated that any other arrangement of elements so as to produce the desired illumination can be substituted therefor and still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, it will be noted that the sections 12, also formed of a rigid non-conductive material, are provided with a reduced upper end portion 56 adapted to telescope within the lower end section 58 of a superimposed section 12 with the reduced upper end section 56 being offset a distance equivalent to the width of the wall of the superimposed section 12 thereby presenting a substantially smooth surface in the area of the joint between the sections 12. It will be noted that the lower portion 58 of the sections 12 is provided with an aperture 60 intended to align with an aperture 62 provided within the reduced upper end portion 56 of a sub jacent section 12, with such aligned holes 60 and 62 receiving a locking means 64 therethrough for securing the superimposed section together. This locking means 64 is resiliently biased into locked engagement within the aligned apertures 60 and 62 by means of a resilient spring member 66 secured just below the upper reduced end 56 of the sections 12 by any conventional means such as rivets 68. In order to facilitate the release of the locking means 64, each spring member 66 is provided with an integral upper projection 70 enabling the user of the device to readily move the locking means 64 outwardly out of engagement with the aligned apertures 60 and 62. As is obvious from the foregoing, the upper section 14 is of the same diameter as the sections 12 with the lower end of the section 14 being provided with an aperture similar to aperture 62 for alignment with an aperture as in a sub-jacent section 12 so as to enable the use of the locking means 64 in securing the top section 14 to a section 12 in the same manner in which the sections 12 are secured to each other.

From the foregoing description, as complemented by the drawings, it will be noted that a novel device has been defined which enables the user thereof to extend wires through various inaccessible and poorly illuminated areas. This is brought about by the provision of a plurality of interlocking sections with the forwardmost of said sections being provided with a hook in addition to an illuminating means thereby enabling the userof the device to easily see and retrieve the object of his search.

While the device of the present invention has been specifically set forth as a means for retrieving wires it is readily apparent that the device can be put to other uses, and, in line with these other uses it will be apparent that a hook of rigid material can be used either with or with out the illuminating means. Further, while the upper hook containing section has been illustrated as being of a length substantially equal to the length of the lower sections, such obviously is not intended as a limitation on the present invention as various different length sections can be provided. For example, the upper section can, if so desired, be of a length only sufiicient to accommodate the illumination means and flexible hook so as to allow the replacement of this upper section with various other types of upper sections or heads capable of performing a variety of dillerent jobs.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, sincenumerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A sectional wire fish pole comprising a straight head section, a straight body section, said head section being provided with a forwardly extending grasping means and an illuminating means, and means releasably securing said body section and head section together, said forwardly extending grasping means comprising an enlarged flexible and resilient hook capable of being temporarily deformed for insertion through relatively small openings and subsequently automatically returning to its original shape.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said body section and said head section have the same cross-sectional area,

' ment between the sections, and means biasing said lock means into engagement.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said head section includes a forwardly opening hollow interior, said illun1inating means consisting of bulb means received Within the hollow interior with the forward end of the bulb means generally aligned with the forward end of the head section, and battery means located Within the hollow interior behind the bulb means and operatively associated therewith.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said illuminating means further includes switch means located within the hollow interior, said head section having an aperture through a portion thereof communicating with the hollow interior, said switch means including an actuating portion projecting into said aperture, said actuating portion having an outer limit on line with the outer end of the aperture so as to locate the actuating portion entirely within the aperture. a

5. A sectional wire fish pole comprising a straight head section, a straight body section, said head sectionbeing provided with a forwardly extending grasping means, and mean releasably securing said body section and head section together, said forwardly extending grasping means comprising an enlarged flexible and resilient hook capable of being temporarily deformed for insertion through relatively small openings and subsequently automatically returning to its original shape.

References li ted by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 373,289 11/87 Hart, 242 -134.7 2,278,111 3/42 Kleinpell 249 19 2,291,593 7/42 Hubbard 294-19 2,591,888 4/52 Steffen 240- 81X 2,793,286 5/57 Stiifel 240-81 X 2,891,811 I 6/59 Strickler 294 19 FOREIGN PATENTS 19,451 1912 Great Britain.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, MILTON S. MEHR,

Examiners. 

1. A SECTIONAL WIRE FISH POLE COMPRISING A STRAIGHT HEAD SECTION, A STRAIGHT BODY SECTION, SAID HEAD SECTION BEING PROVIDED WITH A FORWARDLY EXTENDING GRASPING MEANS AND AN ILLUMINATING MEANS, AND MEANS RELEASABLY SECURING SAID BODY SECTION AND HEAD SECTION TOGETHER, SAID FORWARDLY EXTENDING GRASPING MEANS COMPRISING AN ENLARGED FLEXIBLE AND RESILIENT HOOK CAPABLE OF BEING TEMPORARILY DEFORMED FOR INSERTION THROUGH RELATIVELY SMALL OPENINGS 